Events
Ring in 2025 at The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood’s New Year’s Eve Celebration
Starts Dec. 31. Set in the hotel’s stylish lounge and covered rooftop, this New Year’s Eve event offers an elegant way to ring in 2025. Guests can choose tiered tickets, including open bar access from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., or opt for general admission. Dance to sets by DJ Marcus The Artist, DJ Brad Rush, and DJ Devoux, or elevate the evening with a VIP table for up to four guests, featuring two premium bottles. Doors open at 10 p.m., with a dress-to-impress code for a sophisticated Hollywood celebration. 1400 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. Get Tickets Now
LET IT SWING! – A Christmas Supper Club
Dec. 20. The Hollywood Roosevelt sets the stage for an elegant holiday evening featuring a festive reception in the lobby with mulled wine, chestnuts, hot cocoa, carolers and a brass band. Guests will then enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner in the ballroom, followed by “Let It Swing!”—a two-hour performance by Tim Davis, Gerrit Kinkel and the JAZZ:||:SYMPOSIUM Orchestra blending jazz, holiday classics and ballroom dancing. Black-tie holiday-inspired attire is encouraged. Friday, 7-11:30 p.m. 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. Get Tickets Now
Persian-Inspired Winter Solstice Sound Healing Celebration
Dec. 21. In celebration of the Winter Solstice (Shab-e-Yalda), the Kimpton La Peer in West Hollywood hosts a sound bath event in partnership with Roxie Sound Healing, featuring Persian tea and snacks. This marks the start of a monthly moon cycle sound bath series launching in the new year. To complement the evening, Ladyhawk’s Chef Charbel Hayek presents Fesenjoon, a Persian-inspired chicken stew with pomegranate molasses and jasmine rice, served in a tagine, available exclusively for the night. Saturday, 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. 627 N. La Peer Drive, West Hollywood. Get Tickets Now
Festive Holiday Market at Siete
Dec. 20-22. Santa Monica Proper hosts a curated holiday market at Siete, featuring local vendors and seasonal treats. Highlights include pastries by renowned French pastry chef François Daubinet, known for his work at Paris’s Hôtel de Crillon and three-Michelin-starred Plaza Athénée, in collaboration with Guillaume Guedj of Mr. T. You can enjoy Daubinet’s acclaimed pastries alongside seasonal coffee, teas and beverages while browsing goods from vendors like The New Bar, Siesta Co., Ghia, Doladira and Isa Isa. Hours vary. 700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica. properhotel.com
Holiday on the Hill
Now Open. The Hilton Hotel in Universal City is offering seasonal fun with an ice skating rink overlooking the Hollywood Hills. Families can visit Santa’s Workshop and enjoy face painting, while adults relax with festive cocktails from the Jingle Bell Tavern pop-up bar. Theme nights like “Wicked Wednesdays” feature green lighting and music from Wicked. The event runs daily, with skating priced at $25 per person; additional activities are available for an extra cost. For specific hours, visit website. 555 Universal Hollywood Drive, North Hollywood. experiencethehill.com
Food + Drinks
Zaytinya
Now Open. Chef José Andrés and the José Andrés Group bring their acclaimed Mediterranean flavors to Culver City’s The Shay. The menu highlights seasonal mezze like hommus ma lahm, htipiti, smoked beet salata and crispy brussels afealia, along with entrées such as whole branzino and slow-smoked lamb shoulder. Complemented by a curated selection of Mediterranean and Californian wines and creative cocktails like the Ancient Olive martini. Desserts include Turkish coffee chocolate cake with mastic cream and pistachio. Open daily, 4-10 p.m. 8801 Washington Blvd., Culver City. zaytinya.com
Florence Osteria & Piano Bar
Now Open. Conceptualized by Francesco Zimone of L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele fame, this new Italian restaurant features an 85-year-old olive tree, a live pianist and a 60-seat outdoor patio. Executive Chef Giuseppe Gentile crafts a menu of Tuscan-inspired dishes, including wood-fired branzino with pesto trapanese, tortello with braised oxtail and fettuccine al tartufo prepared tableside in a parmesan wheel. They also offer Italian-inspired cocktails and a curated wine list highlighting bottles from Italy, France and Spain. Open daily, 5 p.m.–12 a.m. 8265 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. florenceosteria.com
Sushi by Scratch Restaurants: Beverly Hills Extends
Open. SLS Beverly Hills extends its omakase tasting menu through January 31, 2025, with daily seatings. The 17-course nigiri experience features fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, including bluefin tuna with soy sauce, hamachi with corn pudding and bone marrow nigiri with crispy unagi. Guests enjoy a welcome cocktail, dessert matcha bonbons and optional sake or Japanese whisky pairings. Wednesday-Sunday, 5 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. Reserve Now
KOAST Preview Dinner Act 2
Dec. 19. Chef Kevin Meehan of Michelin-starred Kali previews his upcoming seafood concept, Koast. Blending Nordic and Japanese influences, the five-course menu spotlights dry-aged fish and fermentation-driven flavors. Dishes include Hawaiian yellowfin tuna with vadouvan curry, scallop chowder, angel hair pasta with XO sauce and a dry-aged cheeseburger topped with black garlic and caramelized onions, served with Old Bay fries. For dessert, enjoy a warm butter cake with vanilla pear compote and Chantilly cream. Thursday, 6-9 p.m. 5722 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. Reserve Now
Arts + Culture
Home Alone in Concert
Dec. 21-22. Elevate your holiday movie tradition with a special screening of Home Alone at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by David Newman, will perform John Williams’s iconic score live alongside the film, creating an immersive cinematic experience. Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
The Long Beach Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Through Dec. 22. Celebrating its 42nd year, Long Beach Ballet brings The Nutcracker to the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The production features a full symphony orchestra, a flying sleigh, a live horse, pyrotechnics and a cast of over 200. Artistic Director David Wilcox enhances the experience with scenery by former Disney designers, costumes by Australian artist Adrian Clark and special effects by magician Franz Harary, creating a magical holiday tradition for all ages. Hours vary. 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Los Angeles.
BATSU!
Through Dec. 21. An immersive dining and comedy experience inspired by Japan’s BATSU! game tradition, where contestants face outrageous challenges and endure wild punishments. Four comedians compete in a series of hilarious tasks to avoid penalties like electric shocks, paintballs or egg-smashing surprises. Audience members can also volunteer to join the fun (with a signed waiver) for a chance at honor—or hilarious humiliation. The evening concludes with the crowning of a winner, who earns the right to strike the “Gong of Punishment.” Hours vary. 6356 Hollywood Blvd. 2nd floor, Los Angeles. Get Tickets Now
National Geographic Live: Adventures in Caving
Dec. 19. Join photographer Robbie Shone for a journey 7,000 feet underground, exploring the world’s deepest and largest cave systems. With over two decades of experience documenting these remote wonders, Shone offers a rare glimpse into Earth’s last frontiers of exploration. Pre-show festivities on The Plaza begin at 6:30 p.m., featuring food from Chicas Tacos, Good Vibes Cookie Co. and other holiday treats. Thursday at 7:30 p.m. 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica. broadstage.org
Grand Illuminations Sets DTLA Aglow for the Holidays
Now Showing. Downtown Los Angeles lights up this holiday season with “Grand Illuminations,” a winter light exhibition by LA artist Liquid PXL, at The Yard at Cal Plaza. Running nightly until next year, the free public display features large-scale kinetic sculptures, including 28-foot Electric Dandelions, a 25-foot LED tree, a glowing Arbor Arch Trellis and a festively lit walkway. Open daily every evening until 10 p.m. 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. downtownla.com
Photo credit: Florence Osteria & Piano Bar courtesy of Nicola Foti. Sushi By Scratch Courtesy of Scratch Restaurants Group. Holiday Event courtesy of Santa Monica Proper and The Ingalls. Zatinya courtesy of Katrina Frederick. Holiday photos courtesy of SANTA Monica Pub Crawl. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
